March 11, 2014

As an American living in Japan, I once felt that it was my right to strike up a random conversation with a stranger. In fact, I was raised in a family where these types of conversations happened on a daily basis. My father, a salesman, often chatted with people on planes, trains, restaurants, and in any other public place.

I never felt it was awkward, though I remember expressing some degree of anxiety about his conversations with waiters and waitresses in fear of them taking something the wrong way and negatively impacting our food. Nevertheless, these kinds of random conversations took place on a regular basis, and it became second nature for me to continue in his footsteps, until I arrived in Japan.

On a Train in Japan: Keep Quiet and Carry On

Japanese public places are not really the place for random conversations. More importantly, Japanese commuters, overall, are just not in the mood to talk to strangers. One never really hears loud conversations on trains. Even conversations between friends are muted to respect the quiet environment of the train. This is something that I have come to love about Japan. The daily commute is nice and calm because the atmosphere of the train is so harmonious.

No, Really, Japanese Trains Want You to Be Quiet

The desire for calm can get a little overboard. One might see someone glaring at someone else's use of headphones on the train; even the spilled-over sounds of music from headphones can be considered a nuisance by some. It is considered a nuisance when women put on makeup on the trains, or even on the train platform, by some, though this attitude is slowly changing. Mothers with crying children often even exit the train and wait for the next train in order to avoid annoying others.

It's nice, once you get used to it

Still, this courtesy is really quite good for the average expat in Japan. Upon visiting America, I noticed a total lack of common courtesy with regard to behavior in public places. On my plane ride back, you wouldn't believe the things a man from Idaho tried to tell me. I put on my headphones to avoid him - which only made him shout louder.

January 09, 2014

JR's Narita Express train has cut its price in half for foreign travelers. This means that it just became the best value for your money to get from Narita Airport to central Tokyo.

The price is falling from roughly 3,000 yen ($30) to 1,500 yen ($15) each way for holders of foreign passports. For children, the same price cut takes effect and the price falls from around 1,500 yen to 750 yen ($7.50).

The N'EX, as it's also known, is a special JR train that runs between Narita Airport terminals and several major train hubs around Tokyo, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa, and out to suburbs like Yokohama.

Why the JR Narita Express is better

As the Konnichiwhoa Japan Guide shows, there are still alternatives, including the Limousine Bus and the Keisei Skyliner (which is still convenient for those staying right around Ueno). But those cost around $30 each way and aren't any faster than JR's Narita Express. The modern N'EX is fast, incredibly smooth, comfortable, has fancy TV screens with updated flight times and news in English, and even has a drink cart for you to get that first (or last) Japanese snack or beer on the go.

I've most recently lived in Shinagawa, which is a Narita Express stop, so I've taken this train a number of times and enjoyed the journey every time. It's an efficient and easy greeting to the country, and it's a beautiful view on the way out. I love it.

The new pass requires a foreign passport

You'll have to show a non-Japanese passport to take advantage of the deal. For Japanese nationals, the price remains the same.

The discounted Narita Express ticket is one of many discounts Japan orchestrates to encourage tourism, but this latest is probably the most aggressive discount I've seen on such a common service.

August 27, 2012

FlightFox is a unique new Web startup that can save you a lot of money on your ticket to Japan. For $29, you can save $100 or more on your ticket and possibly even get an upgrade.

The site is a marketplace that matches people who fly for fun (you and me) with expert frequent flyers who compete to find you the best, cheapest flight. Those guys know the deepest details of every airline and deliver more consistently than a travel agency can. They're so good that they booked a round-the-world trip on 6 continents for $1,730!

Here's how to use it:

1. Create a new "Contest" at FlightFox.com with your destination and dates, like any other flight booking site.2. Answer 4 simple questions about your flexibility and frequent flyer miles.3. Set your bid price. International flights start at $29, but the higher you bid, the more attention you'll get from experts.4. The flight experts all compete to find you the best and cheapest flight using their knowledge of how to avoid taxes, surcharges and fees and how to get you the most frequent flyer miles.5. Pick the winner and book that flight! Congratulations, you've saved money.

FlightFox is my new favorite way to book a flight. I'm tired of searching on travel sites, and I happily pay $29 to have my own personal travel agency that works at my pace.

March 05, 2012

We're creeping up on the one-year anniversary of the March 11th earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown that turned northeastern Japan upside-down.

23 million tons of debris is said to be scattered around areas hit by the tsunami. The photo on the side shows just how impossible it looked to clean the mess up - but as the before/after shot shows, some Herculean efforts have been made to successfully clean up the towns. $50 billion has already been budgeted for cleanup, and it's likely more money will come.

That doesn't mean the whole region is totally fixed. The nuclear situation, while under control, isn't resolved and won't be for a long time. More than 19,000 people lost their lives, breaking as many families. Tens of thousands of people still live in temporary housing and tens of thousands more will always be upset that they can never go home again. The Japanese people's trust in their government was broken and that wound will take a long time to heal.

Still, Japan has a long history of cleaning up after disasters. To visit Kobe today, following its huge earthquake in 1996, you wouldn't know a massive disaster had struck there.